Harvey Rifkin: Redefining racism

Racism in America has been redefined by Republicans to only include overt racist behavior as manifested by the KKK or Nazi White supremacists. But in reality, the racism in America is far more pervasive and insidious in voter suppression, criminal justice, incarceration, funding of inner-city schools, hiring in the white collar industries, health care, access to reproductive rights, etc. Racism is part of the total oppression of “Non-White Non Male” peoples that include LGBTQ, women, Muslims, Asians, etc.

White supremacy and privilege hurts all of America because reducing access to quality education, food, housing, voting rights, health care, and opportunity creates people who fall behind, wind up on entitlements, fall behind in earning capacity, and end up in prisons. It is not a zero-sum game, as our economy continues to grow and expand.